Impatiens plant named ‘TiCoCitrus’

ABSTRACT

A new double  impatiens walleriana  plant named ‘TiCoCitrus’, producing red flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a compact mounded growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species and variety denomination: Impatiens walleriana plant and known by the cultivar name ‘TiCoCitrus’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of plant, botanically known as impatiens walleriana, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name of ‘TiCoCitrus’.

-   -   1. The plants are useful in landscaping, window and hanging         baskets and flower gardens.     -   2. The plant is an impatiens walleriana.     -   3. The plants are generally classed as an annual bedding plant.

Description of the Relevant Prior Art

-   -   1. The pollen parent is an unpatented pollen producing double         impatiens walleriana unpatented semi-double impatiens walleriana         producing Scarlett-colored flowers coded M-BR-41. The pollen         parent is capable of producing viable pollen but not seeds, and         the seed parent is capable of both pollen and seeds.         ‘TiCoCitrus’ is both male and female sterile making it incapable         of producing either pollen or seed.     -   2. The seed parent was Scarlet and the pollen parent was         Scarlet, neither parent is either patented or commercially         available. The cross was made in the breeders controlled         breeding program at Rogue River, Oreg. The first asexual         reproduction was also made at Rogue River, Oreg. Successive         asexual generations produced from cuttings with two or more         leaves have shown the cultivar to be stable.

COMPARISON

-   -   1. The plant is compared to ‘TiTag’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,340.     -   2. The flower color of ‘TiCoCitrus’ is darker than that of         ‘TiTag’.     -   3. The plant of ‘TiTag’ is much less heat tolerant than plant of         ‘TiCoCitrus’.     -   4. See comparison chart labeled Chart 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar is unique either in one or a combination of the characteristics described herein. It is a new double impatiens walleriana producing red flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; a compact mounded growth habit.

Color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The attached color photographs illustrate a plant of ‘TiCoCitrus’ grown in winter and just beginning to mature, approximately 12 weeks of age. Variations between the written description and the colors in the photographs may occur due to the type of film and/or light reflectance and the type of light captured by the film. In the event there are such variations, the written description shall control.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following description was taken at Rogue River, Oreg. on Feb. 7, 2003. The description is of a plant of ‘TiCoCitrus’ similar to the one shown in the photograph.

The following description was taken under the following environment and cultural practices at Rogue River, Oreg. Phenotypical variations may result in plants grown under conditions and locations other than those listed herein.

-   Container: 6 inch azalea pot. -   Medium: Peat-lite type of soilless medium. -   Greenhouse covering: Double layer Polyethelene with 50% shade     applied above the covering. -   Minimum temperature: 65° F. -   Maximum temperature: 75° F. -   Light levels: 1000 to 1500 ft candles. -   Fertilizer: 20-10-20 with trace elements applied twice followed by     one leaching with clear water. -   Cutting type: Lateral stems with two or more leaves. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of cutting.—Lateral stems with two or more leaves.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Generally about 7 to 10 days at soil             temperature of 72° F. -   Appearance and form of mature plant:     -   -   Note.—All size measurements for plant, stems, foliage,             flowers, peduncles, pedicels, buds, and sepals are taken             during winter, low light conditions when the above are the             smallest. Spring and summer high light sizes are generally             much larger than the sizes that are described below.         -   Growth habit.—Mounded and of compact-medium vigor.         -   Plant size.—Plants mature at about 16 cm in height and about             30 cm in width. Both of these measurements are a function of             age, environmental and cultural practices, and can vary             accordingly.         -   Rooting habit.—The roots are fibrous and well branched.         -   Rooting ability.—Easy, no hormones needed.         -   Stems.—Stems are freely produced and no pinching to induce             branching is needed. Color is 146B with stippling of very             small markings that are difficult to determine but which             appear to be close to 183B. The stems at maturity are             generally at least 3 mm in diameter at the internodes, and             the internode length is generally at least 0.5 cm in length.         -   Foliage.—Shape is ovate with cuneate to attenuate base;             crenate margin, margin having tiny spines of an             undeterminable reddish to brownish red color and each being             less than 0.1 mm in length and protruding outwards in a             perpendicular direction from leaf edge and parallel to the             flat surfaces of the leaf, between the lobes of the crenate             margin; and an acuminate apex. Size of largest is about 4 cm             long; about 3.5 cm wide.         -   Foliage color.—Adaxial surface close to 147A; abaxial             surface close to 147C with dark markings close to a greenish             tinged 178A; abaxial surface venation is close to 148A;             Adaxial surface venation, main vein at base is closest to             146A, lateral veins are close to 146A.         -   Foliage texture.—Smooth and flat.         -   Petioles.—Longest petioles are about 2.5 cm long, half             round, flat to slightly convex on upper surface which is             about 2 mm wide, depth of about 1.5 mm. Adaxial surface             color appears to be 146B stippled with tiny reddish markings             that are difficult to determine but appear to be close to             178A to 178B; abaxial surface color appears to be close to             146C to 146D with stippling of very tiny marks of what             appear to be 178A to 178B.         -   Flower habit.—Flowers are produced continuously throughout             the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—All year in greenhouse conditions,             and the frost free period from spring through fall when             planted outdoors.         -   Duration of flower.—Each flower generally lasts about 5 days             at 75° F. maximum and 70° F. minimum temperature.         -   Flowers borne.—Above or beyond the foliage.         -   Flower texture.—Smooth and satiny.         -   Flower color.—Petals/petaloids — Adaxial surface is close to             43A. Abaxial surface is closest to 43C but appears between             43C and 43D.         -   Quantity.—Usually two or more open flowers per stem and             generally 15 or more from visible buds to fully mature             flowers.         -   Petal/petaloid count.—Generally 25 or more.         -   Size.—Generally, at least 3.5 cm wide; generally at least 1             cm deep. The largest petals are generally at least 1.5 cm             wide and at least 1.5 cm deep; obovate to exaggerated             obovate in shape with obtuse to refuse apex, entire margin,             and cuneate to obtuse base. The above measurements refer to             the average flowers.         -   Flower buds.—The buds prior to opening are about 1 cm in             length; about 0.75 cm in diameter; shape is ovate. Bud color             prior to opening is close to 145A on top and close to 149D             on bottom.         -   Peduncles.—Generally at least 1 cm long; about 2 mm in             diameter; colored close to 144A. Good strength.         -   Pedicels.—Generally two or more per peduncle. Each is             generally at least 1.75 cm in length, and at least 1.5 mm in             diameter. Color is close to 144A. Good strength.         -   Calyx.—Calyx consists of generally one sepal and one spur.             The spur is generally at least 2.5 cm long, and about 2 mm             in diameter at sepal end; shape is an acicular tapering tube             about 1 mm in diameter at the apex, and it is attached             toward the base of the sepal in a peltate manner. Color is             close to 172A at apex, is an orangish-green that neither             matches, nor is very close to any color in the chart with             the closest color in the chart being 153D at base. The sepal             generally measures at least 0.75 cm wide, and at least 1.1             cm long; ovate in shape with an acute apex, entire margin,             and obtuse to cordate base; adaxial surface is close to 145             D, with a stippled spot making up as much as ⅓ of the basal             end but generally smaller of two hard to distinguish colors             that appear to be 145D and close to 45D where the spur             connects; the abaxial surface is close to 145D and may have             a stippled of 145D and a hard to determine color that             appears close to 45D.         -   Reproductive organs.—The reproductive organs are replaced             with sterile petaloids.         -   Disease resistance.—Disease resistance has not been tested.         -   Dampness resistance.—The plant has shown a good ability to             hold the flowers in an outward manner during summer rains.         -   Heat tolerance.—The plant has shown a good tolerance to             temperatures exceeding 100° F. at Rogue river by flowering             continuously during temperatures as high as 113° F.

CHART 1 COMPARISON CHART TO PRIOR ART ‘TiCoCitrus’ ‘TiTag’ Stems - color 146B markings close Close to 146B to 146C to 183B. with markings of 178A. Foliage - Size About 4 cm long; about About 7 cm long; about 3.5 cm wide. 4.5 cm wide. Abaxial color Close to 147C with dark 148B with reddish markings close to a blotches close to 177A greenish tinged 178A Foliage - Abaxial Close to 148A Close to 146A with venation color markings close to 178B. Foliage - Adaxial 147A 147A color Foliage - Adaxial Closest to 146A. 146A venation color Petiole - Size 2.5 cm long, upper surface About 1.5 cm long and which is about 2 mm wide, About 3 mm width, depth of about 1.5 mm. depth about 1.5 mm. Adaxial color 146B stippled with tiny 148B to 148C with reddish markings that markings close to 178B. appear to be close to 178A to 178B. Petiole Abaxial Close to 146C to 146D with 146B color stippling of very tiny marks of what appear to be 178A to 178B Petal/Petaloid - Generally at least 1.5 About 2.25 cm in length; Size cm. wide and at least about 2.7 cm in width 1.5 cm. deep. Abaxial color Closest to 43C but appears 40C spots at center base between 43C and 43D. close to 193C to 193D. Petal/Petaloid Close to 43A 33A at center, 40A Adaxial color toward edges. Peduncle - Size Generally at least 1 About 2 cm long, about cm long; about 2 mm 2 mm in diameter. in diameter. Color Close to 144A. 146B with markings close to 187C. Pedicel - Size Generally at least 1.75 About 2 cm in cm in length, and at length, 2 mm. least 1.5 mm in diameter. Color Color is close to 144A. 146B with tiny reddish markings close to 187C. Sepal - Size Generally at least 0.75 About 1 cm wide and cm wide, and at least about 1 cm wide. 1.1 cm long. Adaxial color Close to 145D, with a 193B with a marking stippled spot of two colors close to 181C that appear to be 145D at base. and close to 45D. Sepal Abaxial Close to 145D and may Close to 193A. color have a spot stippled with 145D and a color that appears close to 45D. Spur - Size Generally at least 2.5 About 4 cm. cm long, and about 2 mm in diameter at sepal end. Color Close to 172A at apex, Close to 199B at is an orangish-green the base, close to that neither matches, 183A at apex. nor is very close to any color in the chart with the closest color in the chart being 153D at base. Buds - Size About 1 cm. in length; About 1.1 cm long, about 0.75 cm. in about 1 width, depth diameter. about 1 cm. Color 145A on top and close to Top 146C with markings 149D on bottom. close to 178A, bottom 146C to 146D.

COLOR CODE CHART Stems: 146B, 183B Foliage Abaxial surface: 147C, 178A Foliage Abaxial surface venation: 148A Foliage Adaxial surface: 147A Foliage Adaxial surface venation: 146A Petiole Adaxial surface: 146B, 178A, 178B Petiole Abaxial surface: 146C, 146D, 178A, 178B Petals/Petaloids Abaxial surface: 43C, 43C, 43D Petals/Petaloids Adaxial surface: 43A Buds: 145A, 149D Peduncles: 144A Pedicels: 144A Sepals adaxial surface: 145 D, 145D, 45D Sepals abaxial surface: 145D, 145D, 45D Spur: 172A, 153D 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of double impatiens walleriana plant named ‘TiCoCitrus’ as illustrated and described. 